How Does Aerobic training Impact Muscle Protein Metabolism?

Does cardio really kill your gains?

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This study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, investigates the effects of aerobic exercise training on skeletal muscle protein turnover in healthy adults.

Key Points

Aim

To determine whether 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training alters skeletal muscle protein synthesis, breakdown, and net balance in healthy adults at rest.

Methods

• Participants: 36 healthy adults (18 men, 18 women) aged 18-35 years

• Intervention: 12-week aerobic exercise training program (5 days/week, 45 minutes/session at 70-75% heart rate reserve)

• Measurements: Taken before and after the 12-week intervention

  • Skeletal muscle protein synthesis and breakdown rates

  • Net protein balance

  • Muscle strength and aerobic capacity

Results

1. Aerobic exercise training significantly increased skeletal muscle protein synthesis rates by 12% (p < 0.05).

2. Skeletal muscle protein breakdown rates also increased by 13% (p < 0.05).

3. Despite these increases, net protein balance remained unchanged.

4. Participants showed improvements in aerobic capacity (VO2 max increased by 14%, p < 0.05) and muscle strength (1-repetition maximum leg press increased by 19%, p < 0.05).

Practical Takeaways

1. Aerobic exercise training can stimulate both muscle protein synthesis and breakdown in healthy adults.

2. The increased protein turnover may contribute to improved muscle quality and function, even without changes in net protein balance.

3. The study supports the importance of aerobic exercise for maintaining muscle health, beyond its well-known cardiovascular benefits.

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Key Takeaways

1. Aerobic exercise training increases both skeletal muscle protein synthesis and breakdown rates in healthy adults at rest.

2. These changes occur without altering net protein balance, suggesting a higher protein turnover rate.

3. The increased protein turnover may be associated with improvements in muscle quality and function, as evidenced by increased strength and aerobic capacity.

4. The study provides new insights into how aerobic exercise affects muscle protein metabolism, which may have implications for exercise recommendations and muscle health strategies.

This research contributes to our understanding of how aerobic exercise impacts muscle protein metabolism. It suggests that the benefits of aerobic exercise on muscle health may be partly due to increased protein turnover, even when net protein balance remains unchanged. These findings could have implications for exercise recommendations, particularly for maintaining muscle health in various populations.

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Reference

Pikosky, M. A., Gaine, P. C., Martin, W. F., Grabarz, K. C., Ferrando, A. A., Wolfe, R. R., & Rodriguez, N. R. (2006). Aerobic Exercise Training Increases Skeletal Muscle Protein Turnover in Healthy Adults at Rest. The Journal of Nutrition, 136(2), 379-383. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/136.2.379